Kansas basketball’s first real measuring stick of the season arrives Tuesday night in Chicago, where the No. 14 Jayhawks will face Kentucky in the Champions Classic at the United Center.
Both teams come in unbeaten at 2-0, and Kansas has already handled its first two games at home, rolling past Fordham and Middle Tennessee. Kentucky has done the same with wins over Manhattan and James Madison. Now the spotlight shifts to a neutral floor, and for Kansas, it comes against a familiar opponent.
The Jayhawks have won the last two meetings between the programs, including a matchup in Lexington during the 2022-23 season. The most recent meeting came during the 2023-24 season in Chicago, where Kansas also came away with the win.
Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Fans can watch the game on ESPN, with streaming available through ESPN+.
One of the biggest names to watch is Kansas freshman guard Tyran Stokes. He was recruited by both Kansas and Kentucky before choosing the Jayhawks, and he enters this matchup with a chance to make a major early-season statement. The prediction here is Kansas pulls out an 84-75 win.
Kansas has opened the season with a pair of lopsided victories: Nov. 2 vs.
Fordham, Kansas won 95-65 Nov. 6 vs.
Middle Tennessee, Kansas won 89-45
Kentucky’s first two games have gone this way: Nov. 3 vs.
Manhattan, Kentucky won 85-57 Nov. 6 vs.
James Madison, Kentucky won 89-80
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Kansas Gets An Early Ceiling Test Against Kentuckys New-Look Firepower
The Champions Classic has a way of revealing a lot early, and this meeting with Kentucky gives Kansas a clear read on where it stands against a roster built almost entirely on fresh faces. Kentucky has opened with wins over James Madison and Manhattan, but this is a much sharper step up in class, the kind of game that can expose whether the Wildcats new-look attack is ready for a national stage.
For Kansas, the challenge starts with defending the arc and keeping freshman Tyran Stokes from taking over the game. Kentuckys best path also runs through its newcomers, with Alex Wilkins and Zoom Diallo needing to settle in quickly if the Wildcats are going to match Kansas possession for possession. It is the sort of early ceiling test that can tell you a lot about both teams, even if it leaves plenty still to be sorted out. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Must Reshuffle Its Rotation After Losing A Starting Guard
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For a team still trying to settle into its rotation, losing a guard at this stage is more than a short-term inconvenience. Self is hoping Council can make it back around the start of conference play, but until then Kansas has to find a way to absorb his minutes and maintain some stability on the perimeter without one of its expected starters. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Suddenly Has A Backcourt Problem It Didn't Expect
Kansas backcourt took a hit in practice when Melvin Council Jr. suffered a fracture to the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, a setback that will force Bill Self to adjust on the fly. Council is expected to undergo surgery within the next few days, and the injury comes at a time when the Jayhawks were still sorting out how their guard rotation would settle in during the early part of the season.
Self said Council is expected to make a full recovery and hopes to be back around the start of Big 12 play, but the immediate concern is covering his absence through the rest of the nonconference schedule. For Kansas, that means more responsibility for the other guards and a little less margin for error while the team waits for one of its key perimeter pieces to return. [Read more 🡒]